Thai city excels in environmental strategy

The central Thai city of Nakhon Sawan, located at the origin of the Chao Phraya river which is formed by the convergence of the Ping and Nan rivers, has set itself a goal to become a flagship “green city” and a role model for other urban conglomerates in the country.

The pleasant and clean city has already been awarded the second ASEAN Certificate of Recognition in the category of Clean Water for Small Cities in 2014 in recognition of its highly effective wastewater treatment system.

Nakhon Sawan City is the only city in the country which has raw water for water supply all year round. The main policies of the city are as follows: Access to good water quality for consumers; protection of water resources; wastewater treatment prior to discharge; construction and operation of a water supply system to cover the city’s area; and acquisition of raw water resources to feed the water supply that meet Thailand and World Health Organisation standards.

This is part of the city’s low-carbon strategy which also encompasses a full environmental roadmap. According to Tanapat Saengkiettiyuth, Head of Water Quality Management Subdivision of the Nakhon Sawan City Municipality, there are plans to transform Nakhon Sawan in a “city of trees” at a ratio of at least five square meters of greenery or park per resident. Recycled water from the wastewater plant would be used for the irrigation of these parks.

Another plan is to reduce solid waste by at least 10 per cent, switch from plastic bags to paper bags and support sustainable consumption by non-toxic vegetable farming. The wastewater plant in Nakhon Sawan is also equipped with a treatment system that clears the sludge from the water in a way that it can be used as a highly nutritious soil conditioner and fertiliser with no chemical residue. This also means that sediment sludge from the water treatment process can be discharged into the river without harming aquatic lives, for which fishes living in the plant’s basins are used as indicators.

The city has also pioneered appropriate water usage by creating a curriculum on water conservation and by focusing on environmental education and special projects. For example, among the “green projects” launched are one that uses hyacinth and grass as grease traps in schools and households, one for wastewater treatment using vetiver grass, as well as projects involving innovative water filtration techniques. This has made Nakhon Sawan City the first in Thailand with sustainable clean water supply.

The central Thai city of Nakhon Sawan, located at the origin of the Chao Phraya river which is formed by the convergence of the Ping and Nan rivers, has set itself a goal to become a flagship “green city” and a role model for other urban conglomerates in the country.

The pleasant and clean city has already been awarded the second ASEAN Certificate of Recognition in the category of Clean Water for Small Cities in 2014 in recognition of its highly effective wastewater treatment system.

Nakhon Sawan City is the only city in the country which has raw water for water supply all year round. The main policies of the city are as follows: Access to good water quality for consumers; protection of water resources; wastewater treatment prior to discharge; construction and operation of a water supply system to cover the city’s area; and acquisition of raw water resources to feed the water supply that meet Thailand and World Health Organisation standards.

This is part of the city’s low-carbon strategy which also encompasses a full environmental roadmap. According to Tanapat Saengkiettiyuth, Head of Water Quality Management Subdivision of the Nakhon Sawan City Municipality, there are plans to transform Nakhon Sawan in a “city of trees” at a ratio of at least five square meters of greenery or park per resident. Recycled water from the wastewater plant would be used for the irrigation of these parks.

Another plan is to reduce solid waste by at least 10 per cent, switch from plastic bags to paper bags and support sustainable consumption by non-toxic vegetable farming. The wastewater plant in Nakhon Sawan is also equipped with a treatment system that clears the sludge from the water in a way that it can be used as a highly nutritious soil conditioner and fertiliser with no chemical residue. This also means that sediment sludge from the water treatment process can be discharged into the river without harming aquatic lives, for which fishes living in the plant’s basins are used as indicators.

The city has also pioneered appropriate water usage by creating a curriculum on water conservation and by focusing on environmental education and special projects. For example, among the “green projects” launched are one that uses hyacinth and grass as grease traps in schools and households, one for wastewater treatment using vetiver grass, as well as projects involving innovative water filtration techniques. This has made Nakhon Sawan City the first in Thailand with sustainable clean water supply.